How To Use Your BlackBerry As An Internet Modem

Just like most internet enabled mobile phones in the market today, every BlackBerry device in cases of emergency can serve as a modem to connect to the internet.

This tutorial will guide you through the quick steps needed to configure your BlackBerry Desktop Manager's mobile internet settings and thus get you connected to the web. Please note that you'll need to have another data plan with your network provider as you cannot use your BlackBerry data plan to surf the internet on your desktop/laptop.

If you're a Nigerian, here are the internet data settings and subscription plans for the major GSM companies in the country: Airtel-Zain Internet Plans, Glo Internet Plans, Etisalat Internet Plans and MTN Internet Plans.

After subscribing to your plan of choice, please take note of the Internet Settings of that particular network as you'd be needing it now.

Lets begin

Step 1

Download and Install the BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

Step 2

Launch your BlackBerry Desktop Manager and go to Tools in the menu bar section. Select Mobile Internet Settings from the drop down menu as shown below.

Depending on your country of origin, you can readily choose your settings from the preconfigured list. Nigerian networks aren't on the list thus I'll be creating a custom profile by clicking on the Add custom profile button circled in red below.

A small window pops up and you simply fill in your network's internet settings. Leave the Additional commands field clear!

Once you are done, hit the OK button to exit the small popup screen then OK again to exit the Mobile Internet Settings configuration dialog.

Go back to Menu >> Tools and click on Start Mobile Internet

Ignore the warning below as you've already subscribed to a suitable data plan for your desktop/laptop browsing. Click on Connect

If your network provider's internet service is working, at the bottom left of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager, you should see something that looks like the capture below ( Time Connected and Data Used ). It means you are now connected.